Apparatus and method for multimedia data reception, processing, routing, storage, and access using a web / cloud-computing synchronization of personal multimedia data

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and a method for multimedia data handling to a web or cloud-computing service are disclosed. A set-top box can generate a pre-encoded stream of digitized data after receiving a raw incoming multimedia signal or after receiving a pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted incoming multimedia signal from a service provider-specific signal receiver. The set-top box can also generate streams of encoded multimedia data from the pre-encoded stream of digitized data and segmentize the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for uploading to the web or cloud-computing service, wherein a size of each segment varies based on a current connection bandwidth availability and/or a workload on the set-top box. By automatically segmentizing the streams of encoded multimedia data into individually-viewable segments for the web or cloud-computing service, a user can start viewing the currently-uploading multimedia data faster than a conventional single stream upload.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to multimedia data reception,processing, routing, storage, and access. More specifically, theinvention relates to an apparatus and a method for multimedia datareception, processing (e.g. capturing, encoding), routing, storage, andaccess using a set-top box connected to a multimedia signal source and aweb user interface. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a websynchronization of an encoded multimedia stream from the set-top box,wherein the set-top box is capable of generating the encoded multimediadata stream from the multimedia signal source

Multimedia data upload and access services, such as YouTube, has reachedan iconic cultural status on the Internet today. Many people utilize avideo footage portal service to share their favorite videos with othersor to search existing footages for entertainment or educationalpurposes. Nevertheless, the current process of uploading or sharinginformation to a video footage portal service typically requires amanual human intervention to capture, encode, upload, and/or configure amultimedia file using a personal computer (PC) or another PC-like devicesuch as an Internet-protocol-capable cellular phone. Typically, themanual human intervention also requires one or more multimedia uploadingand/or editing software and a manual user interaction with the videofootage portal service itself. Although highly tech-savvy people whoexhibit an advanced level of computer utilizations dexterously use avideo footage portal service for file upload and sharing, a largeportion of Internet users who feel uncomfortable tweaking with a varietyof multimedia software tools or web uploading interfaces are stillreluctant to use video footage portal services comfortably for prevalentuploading or sharing of multimedia information. A consumer reluctance tobecome dexterous or “power users” of video footage portal services isespecially pervasive for an older age group such as the baby boomers,who are typically computer literate enough to search YouTube, but do notfeel very comfortable in becoming power users for such services.

Furthermore, many users, regardless of their age or computer literacy,find manual human interventions for uploading a video footage quitecumbersome and annoying. For example, if a user wants to upload aten-minute video footage of a family gathering, it typically requires anuplink to a computer, which may use a software to convert the ten-minutevideo footage into a more convenient format (avi, MPEG, and etc.) for anuploading to YouTube. The user may also have to spend some time on anediting software to clip a particular portion of the ten-minute videofootage prior to uploading. Then, for the actual uploading of the videofootage, the user has to log into YouTube and follow uploadingprocedures, all of which require some degree of manual humanintervention and supervision. Therefore, a large number of Internetusers may find the conventional multimedia data encoding, conversion,and/or uploading processes too cumbersome to make video footage portalservices as their intuitive choice for everyday personal multimedia dataarchiving or sharing.

Therefore, it may be highly advantageous to devise an apparatus and amethod which largely automates multimedia data reception, processing(e.g. capturing, encoding), routing, storage, and access. Furthermore,it may be also advantageous to perform a seamless and automatedmultimedia data encoding, routing, and storage of a received multimediasignal (i.e. received by a cable line, a satellite dish, and/or an ATSCairwave antenna) to a particular web service (e.g. a video footageportal service), a device (e.g. an iPod), and/or a computing platform(e.g. a cloud computing platform) without constraining this automationto a provider-specific infrastructure, equipment, and/or service (e.g.infrastructure, equipment, and/or service specific and limited to aparticular cable company, a satellite broadcast company, or an airwavebroadcast company.). In addition, it may also be advantageous to devisean apparatus and a method to retrieve an automatically-stored multimediasignal routed from a set-top box to a web service or a cloud-computingserver to a user connected anywhere on a wide-area network or alocal-area network without having a service provider-specificconstraints, such as using a particular multimedia data recording plansupported by a provider-specific infrastructure and equipment.

SUMMARY

Summary and Abstract summarize some aspects of the present invention.Simplifications or omissions may have been made to avoid obscuring thepurpose of the Summary or the Abstract. These simplifications oromissions are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

In one embodiment of the invention, a set-top box serving as asynchronizing bridge for multimedia data processing, routing, storage,and access is disclosed. This set-top box comprises a signal processorand/or a converter which generate a pre-encoded stream of digitized dataafter receiving a raw incoming multimedia signal or after receiving apre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted incomingmultimedia signal from a service provider-specific signal receiver; amulti-standard codec which generates one or more streams of encodedmultimedia data from the pre-encoded stream of digitized data; one ormore I/O ports which receive and/or transmit data to a web orcloud-computing service, a web or cloud-computing storage, or anexternal device operatively connected to the set-top box, wherein thedata is typically the one or more streams of encoded multimedia data;and a CPU operatively connected to a memory unit, the signal processorand/or the converter, and the multi-standard codec, wherein the CPUcommands and controls an overall behavior of the set-top box andauthorizes a user operatively connected to the set-top box via the webor cloud-computing service to adjust a setting in the set-top box.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method to utilize a set-topbox as a synchronizing bridge between a multimedia signal source andcloud-computing storage and service is disclosed. This method comprisesthe steps of: receiving a multimedia signal from the multimedia signalsource, wherein the multimedia signal source is a raw incoming signal ora pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted signal from aservice provider-specific signal receiver unit; and if the set-top boxis set to auto-route to the cloud-computing storage and service:selecting and/or determining a compatible encoding method for thecloud-computing storage and service; encoding the multimedia signal asan encoded stream of multimedia data; and automatically routing theencoded stream of multimedia data to the cloud-computing storage andservice, wherein the encoded stream of multimedia data gets stored inthe cloud-computing storage and service, and wherein the encoded streamof multimedia data are categorized to be searchable and identifiable bya user ID associated with the set-top box.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows an example of device interactions among a set-top box, aweb-based and/or a cloud-computing-based service, a user's portabledevice, and a multimedia signal source in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 2 shows another example of device interactions among a set-top box,a web-based and/or a cloud-computing-based service, a variety of user'sdevices, and a multimedia signal source in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a block diagram for a set-top box, which maybe operatively connected to a web-based and/or cloud-computing-basedservice and a plurality of external devices, in accordance with anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an apparatus (e.g. a set-top box) capableof intelligent analysis of device compatibility and adaptive processingof multimedia data in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 shows a front view of a portable electronic device connected toan apparatus (e.g. a set-top box) capable of intelligent analysis ofdevice compatibility and adaptive processing of multimedia data inaccordance with an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart showing how an incoming multimedia signal isreceived, encoded, routed, and/or stored to a device operativelyconnected to a set-top box, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing how multimedia data initiallyauto-routed and stored in the web and/or cloud computing storage via theset-top box can be accessed by a user, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart showing how a user can control the set-top boxvia a web and/or cloud computing service which enables initiating,modifying, or cancel encoding, routing, and/or storing of incomingmultimedia signals to the set-top box, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying figures. Like elements in the variousfigures are denoted by like reference numerals for consistency.

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention,numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a morethorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practicedwithout these specific details. In other instances, well-known featureshave not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicatingthe description.

The detailed description is presented largely in terms of procedures,logic blocks, processing, and/or other symbolic representations thatdirectly or indirectly resemble a method or an apparatus for multimediadata reception, processing (e.g. capturing, encoding), routing, storage,and access using a web synchronization of personal multimedia data.These process descriptions and representations are the means used bythose experienced or skilled in the art to most effectively convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that aparticular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connectionwith the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of theinvention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in variousplaces in the specification are not necessarily all referring to thesame embodiment. Furthermore, separate or alternative embodiments arenot necessarily mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, theorder of blocks in process flowcharts or diagrams representing one ormore embodiments of the invention do not inherently indicate anyparticular order nor imply any limitations in the invention.

In general, embodiments of the invention relate to multimedia datareception, processing (e.g. encoding, capturing), routing, storage, andaccess. More specifically, the invention relates to an apparatus and amethod for multimedia data reception, capturing, encoding, routing,storage, and access using a set-top box connected to a multimedia signalsource and a web user interface. Furthermore, the invention also relatesto a web synchronization of an encoded multimedia stream from theset-top box, wherein the set-top box is capable of generating theencoded multimedia data stream from the multimedia signal source.Moreover, the invention also relates to a method for an intelligentanalysis of device compatibility, wherein a set-top box is capable ofanalyzing device compatibility even when a device driver for an externaldevice (i.e. operatively connected to the set-top box) does not exist oris unavailable. Furthermore, the invention also relates to intelligentanalysis of adaptive processing of multimedia data between a set-top boxand an external device, wherein the apparatus is capable of adjusting asampling rate of encoding of the multimedia data based on a remainingstorage of the external device.

One objective of an embodiment of the present invention is to allow auser to automate processing and re-routing of a multimedia signal cominginto a user's set-top box to a cloud-computing server or a webmultimedia storage service, without requiring the user to be constrainedwithin a multimedia signal service provider's network. For example, thepresent invention allows a user to process, re-route, store, andretrieve multimedia signals even when a user is not using aprovider-specific network equipment, a provider-specific Intranet,and/or a provider-specific data recording device. Therefore, a majorobjective of an embodiment of the present invention is to enable auser's “generic” and/or an open-architecture set-top box to process,re-route, store, and retrieve a variety of multimedia signal sources(e.g. cable signals, satellite broadcasting signals, airwave signals,and etc.) flexibly without getting constrained by provider-specificrouters, provider-specific set-top boxes, provider-specific datarecording devices, or provider-specific Intranet.

Furthermore, another objective of an embodiment of the present inventionis to allow a user to retrieve the stored multimedia signal originallyre-routed from the user's generic set-top box to a cloud-computingserver or a web service, wherein the user is able to retrieve the storedmultimedia signal in the cloud-computing server or the web service onany network terminal (e.g. an Internet-connected computer) without beingtethered to a particular multimedia signal service provider (e.g. acable company, a satellite broadcasting company, and etc.), its datastorage subscription plans, and/or its service-specific equipment.Therefore, a user who does not have two multimedia signal serviceprovider-specific set-top boxes connected in a provider-specific localnetwork can still transfer a stored multimedia signal from a firstgeneric set-top box to a second generic set-top box or anInternet-connected computer by utilizing a web/cloud-computingsynchronization of multimedia data

In addition, another objective of an embodiment of the present inventionis to enable the multimedia signal reception, processing, routing,storage, and retrieval to be independent of provider-specific equipment,provider-specific subscription plans, and provider-specific network. Forexample, an embodiment of the present invention enables processing (e.g.capturing, encoding, and etc.) and routing of multimedia signals to aweb/cloud computing platform after raw multimedia signals are alreadydecoded and/or decrypted by provider-specific equipment. Therefore, byreducing or removing the constraints of a broadcasting serviceprovider-specific (a cable company, a satellite broadcasting company,and etc.) infrastructure and signal encryption/decryption methods, auser can benefit from a service-provider-independent flexibility ofre-routing, processing (e.g. encoding to a different multimedia format),storing, and retrieving multimedia signals to and from aweb/cloud-computing platform untethered from a broadcasting serviceprovider.

Yet another objective of an embodiment of the present invention is toprovide a unique method of uploading and viewing multimedia contents toa web or cloud computing-based infrastructure, wherein the unique methodinvolves an automatic segmentization of a currently-uploading multimediadata stream depending on a current bandwidth in a network connection tothe web or cloud computing-based infrastructure to enable quick viewingof some portions of the multimedia data stream even before the entiremultimedia data is transmitted. The size of a segment can be adjusted bya set-top box transmitting the multimedia data stream depending on acurrent network bandwidth availability or a current processor, memory,I/O port, and/or other related workload of the set-top box. Furthermore,this unique method also involves a novel and automated “stitching” ofindividually-viewable segmentized data streams upon completion of theupload in the web or cloud computing-based infrastructure.

FIG. 1 shows an example of device interactions among a set-top box(103), a web-based and/or a cloud-computing-based storage and service(101), a user's portable device (107), and a multimedia signal source(105) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the web-based and/or the cloud-computingbased storage and service (101) is provided by a multimedia footageportal service such as YouTube. Furthermore, in the preferred embodimentof the invention, the set-top box (103) is capable of directly orindirectly processing the multimedia signal source (105), after whichthe set-top box (103) can encode a stream of multimedia data using amultimedia encoding format such as H.264, WMV, MPEG, and DivX compatibleto a destination device (e.g. 107) and/or the web-based and/or thecloud-computing-based storage and service (101). In a preferredembodiment of the invention, a broadcasting service provider-specificsignal receiver operatively connected to the set-top box (103) maypre-process, decode, decompress, and/or decrypt an incoming stream ofmultimedia signals which are specific to a particular broadcastingservice provider (e.g. Comcast Cable, DirecTV, and etc.) beforetransmitting the pre-processed, decoded, decompress, and/or decryptedmultimedia signals to the set-top box (103) for further signalprocessing. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-topbox (103) becomes a “portal” set-top box receiving pre-processed,decoded, decompress, and/or decrypted signals from one or morebroadcasting service provider-specific signal receivers which processraw incoming signals first. Therefore, the “portal” set-top box (e.g.set-top box (103)) can serve as a gateway to a broadcasting serviceprovider-independent processing, routing, storage, and retrieval ofmultimedia data originally sent from the multimedia signal sources(105), without security, viewing license, or subscription-related issuesfor multimedia signals processed by the present invention. Theassumption in this portal set-top box embodiment is that a user willhave to subscribe and pay for a particular broadcasting service plan ifnecessary (e.g. Comcast Cable, DirecTV, and etc.) to receive a licenseto pre-process, decode, decompress, and/or decrypt raw andoften-encrypted multimedia signals with a broadcasting serviceprovider-specific device such as a provider-specific signal receiver.Therefore, the subsequent personal re-routing, storage, and retrieval ofmultimedia data enabled by the present invention is generally presumedto be a legitimate use of the multimedia signal sources (105).

In one embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream of multimediasignals from one or more multimedia signal sources (105) is compressedand/or encrypted for bandwidth utilization and/or data content security.Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream ofmultimedia signals, in its raw form prior to pre-processing, decoding,decompressing, and/or decrypting, may also contain error correctionmechanisms and signal resilience overheads. In one embodiment of theinvention, such pre-processing, decoding, decompressing, and/ordecrypting tasks for the incoming stream of multimedia signals can beperformed by a service provider-specific signal receiver operativelyconnected to the set-top box (103). In another embodiment of theinvention, the set-top box (103) may incorporate some or all of suchpre-processing, decoding, decompressing, and/or decrypting tasks for theincoming stream of multimedia signals originally sent from themultimedia signal sources (105).

Continuing with FIG. 1, factors which influence the quality of imagesand video such as encoding rates can be determined or adjusted accordingto physical capabilities (e.g. resource and/or bandwidth availabilitiesof networks) (e.g. 109, 113), services (e.g. 101), and devices (e.g.107) or user-defined preferences (e.g. “space savings mode”, “maximumvideo quality” mode, and etc.). The multimedia signal source (105) istypically from a cable TV service, a satellite TV service, or an ATSCairwave broadcast. Furthermore, the user's portable device (107) istypically a cellular phone, a multimedia player such as an iPod, aportable video game player, or a data storage such as a USB Flash memorycard. Moreover the operative connections (109, 111, 113) among multipledevices and services (101, 103, 105, 107) may be wired (e.g. USB, wiredLAN, wired WAN) and/or wireless (e.g. Wi-LAN, WiMax, Bluetooth,Cellular).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (103) isalso capable of dividing (i.e. “segmentizing) a currently-uploadingmultimedia data stream to a multiple number of variable-length,segmentized, and viewable files in the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101) while the transmission of thecurrently-uploading multimedia data is still ongoing (e.g. segmentizingthe currently-uploading multimedia data to four segments, Media File1˜Media File 4). A current available bandwidth to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101) and a current processor, memory, I/Oport, and/or other related workload of the set-top box (103) can betaken as determining variables for the length of a particular segment ofan uploading file (i.e. Media Files 1˜4 in FIG. 1 may be part of asingle multimedia data stream with different segment lengths). Forexample, if the current available bandwidth to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101) is getting lower, or if the workloadof the set-top box (103) related to tasks other than uploading themultimedia data stream is getting higher, then a current segment of theuploading file may be a smaller segment than a previously-uploadedsegment of the same multimedia data stream. Likewise, if the currentavailable bandwidth to the web-based and/or cloud-computing-basedservice (101) is getting higher, or if the workload of the set-top box(103) related to tasks other than uploading the multimedia data streamis getting lower, then a current segment of the uploading file may be alarger segment than a previously-uploaded segment of the same multimediadata stream.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, one or moresegments of the currently-uploading multimedia data stream are viewableby a user logging onto the web-based and/or cloud-computing-basedservice (101), even when remaining segments of the multimedia datastream continue to be uploaded to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101). The dynamic segmentization of thecurrently-uploading multimedia data to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101) reduces wait-time for the user tostart viewing the currently-uploading multimedia data (e.g. the user maystart watching Media File 1 from the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101), as remaining segments (i.e. MediaFiles 2˜4) are getting uploaded). Moreover, when the currently-uploadingmultimedia data is completely transmitted to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (101), the set-top box (103) or theweb-based and/or cloud-computing-based service can be configured to“stitch” all segments to a single-viewable file, if the stitching ofsegments is the user's preferred option (e.g. stitching all segments(i.e. Media File 1˜Media File 4) together if they are part of a singleuploaded file).

Segmentizing a currently-uploading file with variable-length segmentsbased on dynamically-changing bandwidth and workload conditions,reducing a user wait-time by making uploaded segments available forimmediate viewing, and stitching of the segments after all segments arecompletely transmitted are clearly novel features of some embodiments ofthe invention. Compared to a conventional single-file upload method to aweb or cloud-computing service, the automatic segmentization of thecurrently-uploading multimedia data gives faster user access to thecurrently-uploading multimedia data before the multimedia data iscompletely transmitted to the web or cloud-computing service. Thesefeatures are especially unique when a file transfer protocol (FTP) oranother connection interruption-resistant protocol is utilized fortransmission of multimedia data from the set-top box (103) to theweb-based and/or cloud-computing-based service (101).

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-topbox (103) is also capable of routing the stream of encoded multimediadata to a particular device (e.g. 107) or a service platform (e.g. 101)which may have its own network-attached storage. One important aspect ofthe present invention is that the set-top box (103) can serve as abridge between a web-based and/or the cloud computing-based storage andservice (101) and a user's portable device (107). The present inventionenables a synchronization of a multimedia signal source (105) (i.e.received by the set-top box (103)) with a user's portable device (107)and/or a web-based/cloud-computing-based storage and service (101). Theset-top box (103) plays a key bridging role in automating multimediasignal reception (e.g. for cable, satellite, or airwave TV signal),encoding the multimedia signal to a stream of multimedia data, androuting the stream of multimedia data to a desired device or a serviceplatform without a manual human intervention. Furthermore, the presentinvention enables direct and automatic uploading of multimedia data fromthe user's portable device (107) to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based storage and service (101) by using the set-top boxwithout any need for a PC. Moreover, the set-top box (103) may also becapable of charging the user's portable device (107).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (103) is astandalone device as illustrated in FIG. 1. In an alternate embodimentof the invention, the set-top box (103) may be integrated into anotherdevice, such as a display panel (e.g. a computer monitor, a television),a digital video recorder, or a portable electronic device.

FIG. 2 shows another example of device interactions among a set-top box(209), a web-based and/or a cloud-computing-based service (201), an NAS(205), a variety of user's devices (219, 221, 223), and a multimediasignal source (225) in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.In one embodiment of the invention, the web-based and/or thecloud-computing based storage and service (201) is provided by amultimedia footage portal service which uses an NAS (205) to store andaccess multimedia data. Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the set-top box (209) is capable of receiving the multimediasignal source (225), after which the set-top box (209) can encode astream of multimedia data using a multimedia encoding format such asH.264, WMV, MPEG, and DivX compatible to a destination device (e.g. 219,221, 223) and/or the web-based and/or the cloud-computing-based storageand service (201, 205). Factors which influence the quality of imagesand video such as encoding rates can be determined or adjusted accordingto physical capabilities (e.g. resource and/or bandwidth availabilitiesof networks) (e.g. 203, 207, 211, 213, 215, 217), services (e.g. 201),and devices (e.g. 219, 221, 223) or user-defined preferences (e.g.“space savings mode”, “maximum video quality” mode, and etc.).

Continuing with FIG. 2, the multimedia signal source (225) is typicallyfrom a cable TV service, a satellite TV service, or an ATSC airwavebroadcast. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box(209) is capable of directly or indirectly processing the multimediasignal source (225), after which the set-top box (209) can encode astream of multimedia data using a multimedia encoding format such asH.264, WMV, MPEG, and DivX compatible to a destination device (e.g. 223)and/or the web-based and/or the cloud-computing-based storage andservice (205, 203, 201). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, abroadcasting service provider-specific signal receiver operativelyconnected to the set-top box (209) may pre-process, decode, decompress,and/or decrypt an incoming stream of multimedia signals which arespecific to a particular broadcasting service provider (e.g. ComcastCable, DirecTV, and etc.) before transmitting the pre-processed,decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted multimedia signals to theset-top box (209) for further signal processing. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the set-top box (209) becomes a “portal”set-top box receiving pre-processed, decoded, decompress, and/ordecrypted signals from one or more broadcasting serviceprovider-specific signal receivers which process raw incoming signalsfirst. Therefore, the “portal” set-top box (e.g. set-top box (209)) canserve as a gateway to a broadcasting service provider-independentprocessing, routing, storage, and retrieval of multimedia dataoriginally sent from the multimedia signal sources (209), withoutsecurity, viewing license, or subscription-related issues for multimediasignals processed by the present invention. The assumption in thisportal set-top box embodiment is that a user will have to subscribe andpay for a particular broadcasting service plan if necessary (e.g.Comcast Cable, DirecTV, and etc.) to receive a license to pre-process,decode, decompress, and/or decrypt raw and often-encrypted multimediasignals with a broadcasting service provider-specific device such as aprovider-specific signal receiver. Therefore, the subsequent personalre-routing, storage, and retrieval of multimedia data enabled by thepresent invention is generally presumed to be a legitimate use of themultimedia signal sources (225).

In one embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream of multimediasignals from one or more multimedia signal sources (225) is compressedand/or encrypted for bandwidth utilization and/or data content security.Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream ofmultimedia signals, in its raw form prior to pre-processing, decoding,decompressing, and/or decrypting, may also contain error correctionmechanisms and signal resilience overheads. In one embodiment of theinvention, such pre-processing, decoding, decompressing, and/ordecrypting tasks for the incoming stream of multimedia signals can beperformed by a service provider-specific signal receiver operativelyconnected to the set-top box (209). In another embodiment of theinvention, the set-top box (209) may incorporate some or all of suchpre-processing, decoding, decompressing, and/or decrypting tasks for theincoming stream of multimedia signals originally sent from themultimedia signal sources (225).

Furthermore, the user's devices (219, 221, 223) in this example are adigital video recorder (DVR) (219), a display panel (221), and acellular phone (223), respectively. Moreover the operative connections(203, 207, 211, 213, 215, 217) among multiple devices and services (201,205, 209, 219, 221, 223, 225) may be wired (e.g. USB, wired LAN, wiredWAN) and/or wireless (e.g. Wi-LAN, WiMax, Bluetooth, Cellular). In oneembodiment of the invention, the set-top box (209) is also capable ofrouting the stream of encoded multimedia data to a particular device(e.g. 219, 221, 223) or a service platform (e.g. 201) which may have itsown network-attached storage (205). Furthermore, as shown in a screenillustration (e.g. “File Share” and “Media Files”) for the web-basedand/or the cloud-computing-based service (201), a user can share hisstored video or multimedia files with authorized peers. The web-basedand/or a cloud-computing-based service (201) is generally capable ofstoring an encoded stream of multimedia data transmitted from theset-top box (209).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an NAS (205) operativelyconnected to the web-based and/or a cloud-computing-based service (201)is configured to store the encoded stream of multimedia data for aparticular user identified by a user ID and a password. In the preferredembodiment of the invention, the user ID and the password can be used toretrieve user-specific and personal multimedia data stored in the NAS(205), which may have a front-end application-level user interface (e.g.a website screen illustration for 201) operatively connected to the NAS.In addition, the particular user may even be able to control at leastsome functions of the set-top box (209) from the web-based and/or thecloud-computing-based service (201). In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, a synchronization of personal multimedia data is achieved bythe set-top box (209), which acts as a synchronizing bridge among theweb-based and/or the cloud-computing-based service (201), devices (219,221, 223) connected to the set-top box (209), and a multimedia signalsource typically from a cable TV provider, a satellite TV provider, oran airwave TV broadcaster.

Continuing with FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, theset-top box (209) is also capable of dividing (i.e. “segmentizing) acurrently-uploading multimedia data stream to a multiple number ofvariable-length, segmentized, and viewable files in the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (201) while the transmission of thecurrently-uploading multimedia data is still ongoing (e.g. segmentizingthe currently-uploading multimedia data to four segments, Media File1˜Media File 4). A current available bandwidth to the NAS (205) and theweb-based and/or cloud-computing-based service (201) can be adetermining factor in defining the size of a particular segment.Moreover, a current processor, memory, I/O port, and/or other relatedworkload of the set-top box (209) can also be taken as determiningvariables for the length of a particular segment of an uploading file(i.e. Media Files 1˜4 in FIG. 2 may be part of a single multimedia datastream with different segment lengths). For example, if the currentavailable bandwidth to the NAS (205) and the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (201) is getting lower, or if the workloadof the set-top box (209) related to tasks other than uploading themultimedia data stream is getting higher, then a current segment of theuploading file may be a smaller segment than a previously-uploadedsegment of the same multimedia data stream. Likewise, if the currentavailable bandwidth to the web-based and/or cloud-computing-basedservice (201) is getting higher, or if the workload of the set-top box(209) related to tasks other than uploading the multimedia data streamis getting lower, then a current segment of the uploading file may be alarger segment than a previously-uploaded segment of the same multimediadata stream.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, one or moresegments of the currently-uploading multimedia data stream are viewableby a user logging onto the web-based and/or cloud-computing-basedservice (201), even when remaining segments of the multimedia datastream continue to be uploaded to the NAS (205) and the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (201). The dynamic segmentization of thecurrently-uploading multimedia data to the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (201) reduces wait-time for the user tostart viewing the currently-uploading multimedia data (e.g. the user maystart watching Media File 1 from the web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (201), as remaining segments (i.e. MediaFiles 2˜4) are getting uploaded). Moreover, when the currently-uploadingmultimedia data is completely transmitted to the NAS (205) and theweb-based and/or cloud-computing-based service (201), the set-top box(209) or the web-based and/or cloud-computing-based service (201) can beconfigured to “stitch” all segments to a single-viewable file, if thestitching of segments is the user's preferred option (e.g. stitching allsegments (i.e. Media File 1˜Media File 4) together if they are part of asingle uploaded file).

Segmentizing a currently-uploading file with variable-length segmentsbased on dynamically-changing bandwidth and workload conditions,reducing a user wait-time by making uploaded segments available forimmediate viewing, and stitching of the segments after all segments arecompletely transmitted are clearly novel features of some embodiments ofthe invention. These features are especially unique when a file transferprotocol (FTP) or another connection interruption-resistant protocol isutilized for transmission of multimedia data from the set-top box (209)to the web-based and/or cloud-computing-based service (201).

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (209) is astandalone device as illustrated in FIG. 2. In an alternate embodimentof the invention, the set-top box (209) may be integrated into anotherdevice, such as a display panel (e.g. a computer monitor, a television),a digital video recorder, or a portable electronic device.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a block diagram for a set-top box (301),which may be operatively connected to a web-based and/orcloud-computing-based service (323) and a plurality of external devices(319, 321), in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In apreferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (301) comprises asignal processor/converter unit (303) (e.g. an analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC), a general signal processor, and etc.), which isconfigured to receive and convert an incoming stream of multimedia datasignals (327) to a pre-encoded stream of digitized data, wherein theincoming stream of multimedia data signals is typically a rawbroadcasting signal source or a pre-processed, decoded, decompressed,and/or decrypted stream of multimedia signals from aservice-provider-specific signal receiver. In one embodiment of theinvention, the incoming stream of multimedia data signals (327) iseither directly or indirectly provided by a TV cable box, a satellitedish, a video camera, and/or a service provider-specific signalreceiver.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (301)further comprises a codec unit (309), which is configured to encode thepre-encoded stream of digitized data from the signal processor/converter(303) to an encoded stream of a standard multimedia encoding format. Inone embodiment of the invention, the standard multimedia encoding formatmay be H.264, WMV, DivX, or MP3. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the codec unit (309) is capable of handling a multiple numberof multimedia encoding formats, which may include H.264, WMV, DivX, andMP3. Furthermore, the codec unit (309) is capable of generating theencoded stream of a standard multimedia encoding format for a particularnative display resolution of an external device. For example, an encodedstream of a standard multimedia encoding format for an SVGA-screenexternal device may involve different signal transformations andprocessing compared to those needed for a QVGA-screen external device.The set-top box (301) in Figure is able to detect different nativedisplay resolutions of external devices automatically by using anintelligent analysis of device compatibility in accordance with thepresent invention, even when no device driver information of externaldevices are available to the set-top box (301).

Continuing with FIG. 3, the set-top box (301) further comprises a buffermemory unit (317) which is configured to store the encoded stream of thestandard multimedia encoding format prior to transmission to an externaldevice (e.g. 319, 321) or a web/cloud-computing services (323).Moreover, the set-top box (301) also typically includes a system memoryunit (307) to store operating instructions and/or data for the set-topbox (301), a central processing unit (CPU) (305), and one or more I/Ounits (e.g. 311, 313, 315). In one embodiment of the invention, the CPU(305) is operatively connected to the signal processor/converter unit(303), the codec unit (309), the system memory unit (307), the bufferunit (317), and the I/O units (311, 313, 315). The CPU (305) may also becapable of executing the intelligent analysis of device compatibility aswell as adaptive processing of multimedia data based on a remainingstorage space of an external device (e.g. 319, 321) or theweb/cloud-computing services (323). Furthermore, in one embodiment ofthe invention, the web/cloud-computing services (323) is operativelyconnected to the set-top box (301) via a wide-area-network (WAN) and/ora local-area-network (LAN) (325). Even though an external device 1 (319)and an external device 2 (321) may typically be connected to the set-topbox (301) by point-to-point (PTP) connections or local-area-network(LAN) connections, it is also possible to have the external devices(319, 321) connected to the set-top box (301) on a wide-area network.

The set-top box (301) as shown in FIG. 3 may also be controlled oradjusted by the web/cloud-computing services (323) or an external device(e.g. 319 or 321). An example of an adjustment of the set-top box (301)initiated by the web/cloud-computing services (323) is a consumerchanging a video recording timing (e.g. from 2 pm to 5 pm) or a videochannel (e.g. from CNN to ESPN) for multimedia data processed by theset-top box (301), even when the consumer is remotely located from theset-top box (301). In one embodiment of the invention, a web userinterface associated with the web/cloud-computing services (323) isutilized to control or adjust at least some settings in the set-top box(301).

FIG. 4 shows a front view of an apparatus (400) capable of intelligentanalysis of device compatibility and adaptive processing of multimediadata in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the apparatus (400) is a set-top box (401)which is configured to receive an incoming stream of multimedia datasignals (405A) from a data-transmitting medium (405). In case of thepreferred embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream of multimediadata signals (405A) then goes through one or more signaltransformations, signal processing, and/or digitized data encodinginside the set-top box (401) before an encoded stream of data istransmitted to an external device. Examples of an external deviceinclude an SD card storage (421) operatively connected to the apparatus(400), any USB-compliant device operatively connected to one or more USBports (407, 415, 417), and a web/cloud-computing platform operativelyconnected to the set-top box (401). In one embodiment of the invention,the data-transmitting medium (405) is a copper-wire cable. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the data-transmitting medium (405) is awireless transmitter sending signals to the apparatus (400). Yet inanother embodiment of the invention, the data-transmitting medium (405)is a fiber optic line capable of transmitting optical signals to theapparatus (400).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (401) alsohas a power cord (403) which receives an external electrical power tooperate at least some internal electronic circuitry of the set-top box(401). The set-top box (401) also has a “Record” button (409) and a“Replay/Stop” button (411). In one instance of the preferred embodiment,pressing the “Record” button (409) initiates signal processing andconversion of an incoming stream of multimedia signals (405A) fortransmission of a digitally-encoded stream of multimedia signals (405A)to an SD card (421) or a USB-compliant device operatively connected to aUSB port (407, 415, 417) of the set-top box (401). Furthermore, in oneinstance of the preferred embodiment, pressing the “Replay/Stop” button(411) either triggers a “playback” command for encoded streams of themultimedia data or a “stop” command for transmission of the encodedstreams of the multimedia data to an external device operativelyconnected to the set-top box (401). In one example of the “playback”command, the encoded streams of the multimedia data which have beenalready transmitted to an external device are “played back” on a displayscreen and/or a speaker attached or associated with the external device.In another example of the “playback” command, the encoded streams of themultimedia data which are buffered inside the set-top box and are notyet transmitted to the external device are “played back” on a displayscreen operatively connected to the set-top box (401). Examples of thedisplay screen include, but are not limited to, an embedded display(413) of the set-top box, a display panel attached to another deviceother than the external device, and a display panel attached to theexternal device itself.

Continuing with FIG. 4, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,the embedded display (413) of the set-top box (401) is configured todisplay multimedia recording-related information such as date, time,encoding modes, TV/Video channel information, recording durations,recording reservation information, and etc. In one embodiment of theinvention, a menu “select” button (423) is used to navigate menus and/orenter desired menu choices based on a user selection. In addition, menuassistance buttons (e.g. a “−” button (419), a “+” button (425)) canalso be used for navigation of menus supplied by an embedded software ofthe set-top box (401). In one embodiment of the invention, a pluralityof I/O ports (e.g. 407, 415, 417) are attached to the apparatus (400).In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the plurality of I/O portsare a USB-compliant port (e.g. 407, 415, 417) and an SD-card portconfigured to accept an SD card (421). Other possible types of I/O portsinclude, but are not limited to, a FireWire port, an HDMI port, a MicroSD port, and an optical data transmission port.

Continuing with FIG. 4, in one embodiment of the invention, the incomingstream of multimedia data signals (405A) is in analog domain which isfirst converted into a pre-encoded stream of digitized data by a signalprocessor/converter in the apparatus (400) (e.g. analog-to-digitalconverter (ADC), a general signal processor, and etc.). In anotherembodiment of the invention, the incoming stream of multimedia datasignals (405A) is first pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/ordecrypted by a service provider-specific signal receiver, whichtransmits this pre-processed data to the set-top box (401). Then, thepre-encoded stream of digitized data is further converted into anencoded stream of a standard multimedia encoding format, such as H.264,WMV, or DivX. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-topbox (401) may dynamically gather some information from an externaldevice (e.g. an SD card (421), a USB-compliant device connected to a USBport (407, 415, 417), a web/cloud-computing platform operativelyconnected to the set-top box (401)) to adjust a sampling rate forencoding the pre-encoded stream into a standard multimedia encodingformat before an encoded stream is transmitted to the external device.In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the information gatheredfrom the external device may be a remaining storage space in theexternal device.

In one example of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-topbox (401) has an “adaptive encoding” mode which continuously monitorsthe remaining storage space of the external device. In the “adaptiveencoding” mode, the set-top box (401) may or may not know a desired endtime of recording by a user. If the desired end time of recording isknown at the time of recording command (e.g. pressing a “Record” button(409)), then the set-top box (401) can simply calculate the amount ofstorage space required in the external device to transfer all streams ofrelevant multimedia data. If the set-top box (401) determines that theexternal device has sufficient storage space even for a highest-qualitysampling rate which is compatible with the external device, then theset-top box (401) may begin processing and transfer of the multimediadata to the external device at the highest-quality sampling rate. On theother hand, if the set-top box (401) determines that the external devicehas only sufficient storage for a lower-quality sampling rate for astandard multimedia encoding format, then the lower-quality samplingrate may be automatically used for encoding streams of the multimediadata for space-fitting transfer of the multimedia data to the externaldevice.

In contrast, if the set-top box (401) does not know a desired end timeof recording by the user because the user never specified the end timeof multimedia data transfer to an external device, then the set-top box(401) can encode and transmit streams of multimedia data at ahighest-possible-quality sampling rate until a threshold value for lowavailable storage space is reached from the external device. Once thethreshold value for low storage space is reached, the set-top box (401)can encode a subsequent stream of the multimedia data at a lower-qualitysampling rate to cram in as many subsequent streams of multimedia dataas possible until the low available storage space for the externaldevice is completely consumed.

FIG. 5 shows a front view (500) of a portable electronic device (527)operatively connected to an apparatus (501) capable of intelligentanalysis of device compatibility and adaptive processing of multimediadata in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. In oneembodiment of the invention, the portable electronic device (527) is aportable multimedia player which can store and decode a stream ofmultimedia data in a standard multimedia format (e.g. H.264, WMV, DivX,MP3, and etc.) for a playback through its display panel and/or speaker.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the portable electronicdevice (527) is operatively connected to the apparatus (e.g. set-top box(501)) via a USB cable and a first USB port (517).

The apparatus (e.g. set-top box (501)) in accordance with the presentinvention is capable of performing an intelligent analysis of devicecompatibility between the apparatus and an external device (e.g. theportable electronic device (527), a web/cloud-computing platform, andetc.) once the external device is operatively connected to the apparatus(e.g. set-top box (501)). In a preferred embodiment of the invention,the apparatus first detects an operative connection of an externaldevice (e.g. 527) to an I/O port (e.g. the first USB port (517)) and/ora network data port such as an Ethernet port. In one example, thedetection of operative connection is accomplished by checking voltagelevels of one or more pins inside the I/O port. In another example, thedetection of operative connection is accomplished by an initial wirelesscommunication attempt between the I/O port and the apparatus. Then, theapparatus executes or attempts to execute an I/O-specific protocol fortests, mounting, and/or signature file access from the apparatus to theexternal device. In one example, the I/O-specific protocol for tests,mounting, and/or signature file access can be based on USB-standardspecifications. In another example, the I/O-specific protocol for tests,mounting, and/or signature file access can be based on FireWire-standardspecifications. Yet in another example, the I/O-specific protocol fortests, mounting, and/or signature file access can be based on Wi-LAN orIEEE 802.11 specifications.

Continuing with FIG. 5, once the external device (e.g. 527) and theapparatus (e.g. 501) goes through their I/O-specific test, mounting, andsignature file access procedures, the apparatus (e.g. 501) uses alook-up table (LUT) containing external device-specific characteristicsand conditional logic as an attempt to find a known file structureinside the external device (e.g. 527). The use of the LUT does not needto involve device driver information for the external device, becausethe apparatus will attempt to determine a particular model and type ofthe external device by making educated guesses (i.e. using conditionallogic) via if-then and/or if-then-else statements in its attempt to finda known file structure inside the external device (e.g. 527). In oneembodiment of the invention, the educated guesses using the conditionallogic includes parsing serial numbers and/or model names of the externaldevice even when the device driver for the external device isunavailable.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the LUT for externaldevice-specific characteristics and conditional logic contained insidethe apparatus (e.g. 501) includes information related to compatible datasampling rates (e.g. EP, LP, SP), multimedia codec types (e.g. H.264,WMV, DivX, MP3), and native display resolutions (e.g. QVGA, VGA, SVGA,XGA) for numerous kinds of external devices which may be potentially beconnected to the apparatus. It is important to note that the externaldevice-specific characteristics in the LUT are not provided by devicedrivers of external devices. In a typical embodiment of the invention,many external devices may not ever supply device drivers to theapparatus, because the external device manufacturers may not be aware ofthe apparatus or simply did not provide an explicit compatibilitysolution for the apparatus. A unique aspect of the present invention forintelligent analysis of device compatibility is that the LUT istypically pre-stored inside the apparatus and comprises of informationwhich are publicly available through user manuals or specifications ofcommon external devices. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, theLUT is periodically updated by a distributor and/or manufacturer of theapparatus (e.g. set-top box (501)).

Continuing with FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, ifthe known file structure is found inside the external device (e.g. 527),then the apparatus (e.g. 501) has identified essential externaldevice-specific characteristics such as compatible data sampling rates(e.g. EP, LP, SP), compatible multimedia codec types (e.g. H.264, WMV,DivX, MP3), and desired native display resolutions (e.g. QVGA, VGA,SVGA, XGA) specifically for the external device (e.g. 527) from its LUTentries, based on its intelligent device compatibility analysis.

On the other hand, if the known file structure is not found inside theexternal device (e.g. 527), then the apparatus (e.g. 501) cannotidentify the essential device-specific characteristics for the externaldevice (e.g. 527). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a failureto identify the known file structure inside the external device willprompt the apparatus (e.g. 501) to make an assumption that the externaldevice (e.g. 527) has an I/O-compliant storage space (e.g. aUSB-compliant storage space inside the portable electronic device (527),a hard disk storage space inside a web/cloud-computing platform). Then,the apparatus (e.g. 501) will attempt to create a file directory insidethe external device (e.g. 527). If the file directory is successfullycreated, the apparatus (e.g. 501) can at least transfer some multimediadata to the external device (e.g. 527) based on a user command to theapparatus (e.g. 501) using one or more command buttons (e.g. 509, 511,519, 523, 525). In contrast, if the file directory is not successfullycreated inside the external device (e.g. 527), then the apparatus (e.g.501) can indicate that the apparatus and the external devices arefatally incompatible using an embedded display (513), anexternally-connected display panel, and/or an attached speaker.

In one embodiment of the invention, an SD card (521) is designated as abackup storage for raw or transformed incoming stream of multimedia datasignals, when and if no other external devices are operatively connectedto the apparatus (e.g. 501). At least in one mode of operation, onceanother external device (e.g. 527) other than the SD card (521) isoperatively connected to the apparatus (e.g. 501), the multimedia datastored in the SD card (521) can be transmitted to the other externaldevice (e.g. 527). The backup storage (e.g. 521) can also simply be usedas a buffer space prior to transmission of transformed, processed,and/or encoded multimedia data to another external device (e.g. 527).

Continuing with FIG. 5, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, theapparatus (e.g. 501) is a set-top box (501), which is configured toreceive an incoming stream of multimedia data signals (505A) from adata-transmitting medium (505). In case of the preferred embodiment ofthe invention, the incoming stream of multimedia data signals (505A)then goes through one or more signal transformations, signal processing,and/or digitized data encoding inside the set-top box (501) before anencoded stream of data is transmitted to an external device. Examples ofan external device include an SD card storage (521) operativelyconnected to the apparatus (e.g. set-top box (501)) and anyUSB-compliant device operatively connected to one or more USB ports(507, 515, 517). In one embodiment of the invention, thedata-transmitting medium (505) is a copper-wire cable. In anotherembodiment of the invention, the data-transmitting medium (505) is awireless transmitter sending signals to the apparatus (e.g. set-top box(51)). Yet in another embodiment of the invention, the data-transmittingmedium (505) is a fiber optic line capable of transmitting opticalsignals to the apparatus (e.g. set-top box (501)).

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-top box (501) alsohas a power cord (503) which receives an external electrical power tooperate at least some internal electronic circuitry of the set-top box(501). The set-top box (501) also has a “Record” button (509) and a“Replay/Stop” button (511). In one instance of the preferred embodiment,pressing the “Record” button (509) initiates signal processing andconversion of an incoming stream of multimedia signals (505A) fortransmission of a digitally-encoded stream of multimedia signals (505A)to an SD card (521) or a USB-compliant device operatively connected to aUSB port (507, 515, 517) of the set-top box (501). Furthermore, in oneinstance of the preferred embodiment, pressing the “Replay/Stop” button(511) either triggers a “playback” command for encoded streams of themultimedia data or a “stop” command for transmission of the encodedstreams of the multimedia data to an external device operativelyconnected to the set-top box (501). In one example of the “playback”command, the encoded streams of the multimedia data which have beenalready transmitted to an external device are “played back” on a displayscreen and/or a speaker attached or associated with the external device.In another example of the “playback” command, the encoded streams of themultimedia data which are buffered inside the set-top box and are notyet transmitted to the external device are “played back” on a displayscreen operatively connected to the set-top box (501). Examples of thedisplay screen include, but are not limited to, an embedded display(513) of the set-top box, a display panel attached to another deviceother than the external device, and a display panel attached to theexternal device itself.

Continuing with FIG. 5, in the preferred embodiment of the invention,the embedded display (513) of the set-top box (501) is configured todisplay multimedia recording-related information such as date, time,encoding modes, TV/Video channel information, recording durations,recording reservation information, and etc. In one embodiment of theinvention, a menu “select” button (523) is used to navigate menus and/orenter desired menu choices based on a user selection. In addition, menuassistance buttons (e.g. a “−” button (519), a “+” button (525)) canalso be used for navigation of menus supplied by an embedded software ofthe set-top box (501). In one embodiment of the invention, a pluralityof I/O ports (e.g. 507, 515, 517) are attached to the apparatus (e.g.set-top box (501)). In a preferred embodiment of the invention, theplurality of I/O ports are a USB-compliant port (e.g. 507, 515, 517) andan SD-card port configured to accept an SD card (521). Other possibletypes of I/O ports include, but are not limited to, a FireWire port, anHDMI port, a Micro SD port, and an optical data transmission port.

Continuing with FIG. 5, in one embodiment of the invention, the incomingstream of multimedia data signals (505A) is in analog domain which isfirst converted into a pre-encoded stream of digitized data by a signalprocessor/converter (e.g. analog-to-digital converter (ADC), a generalsignal processor, and etc.) in the apparatus (e.g. set-top box (501)).In another embodiment of the invention, the incoming stream ofmultimedia data signals (505A) is first pre-processed, decoded,decompressed, and/or decrypted by a service provider-specific signalreceiver, which transmits this pre-processed data to the set-top box(501). Then, the pre-encoded stream of digitized data is furtherconverted into an encoded stream of a standard multimedia encodingformat, such as H.264, WMV, or DivX. In the preferred embodiment of theinvention, the set-top box (501) may dynamically gather some informationfrom an external device (e.g. an SD card (521) or a USB-compliant device(e.g. 527) connected to a USB port (507, 515, 517)) to adjust a samplingrate for encoding the pre-encoded stream into a standard multimediaencoding format before an encoded stream is transmitted to the externaldevice. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the informationgathered from the external device may be a remaining storage space inthe external device (e.g. 527).

In one example of the preferred embodiment of the invention, the set-topbox (501) has an “adaptive encoding” mode which continuously monitorsthe remaining storage space of the external device (e.g. 527). In the“adaptive encoding” mode, the set-top box (501) may or may not know adesired end time of recording by a user. If the desired end time ofrecording is known at the time of recording command (e.g. pressing a“Record” button (509)), then the set-top box (501) can simply calculatethe amount of storage space required in the external device to transferall streams of relevant multimedia data. If the set-top box (501)determines that the external device has sufficient storage space evenfor a highest-quality sampling rate (e.g. an SP-mode) which iscompatible with the external device, then the set-top box (501) maybegin processing and transfer of the multimedia data to the externaldevice at the highest-quality sampling rate. On the other hand, if theset-top box (501) determines that the external device has onlysufficient storage for a lower-quality sampling rate (e.g. an LP-mode oran EP-mode) for a standard multimedia encoding format, then thelower-quality sampling rate may be automatically used for encodingstreams of the multimedia data for space-fitting transfer of themultimedia data to the external device.

In contrast, if the set-top box (501) does not know a desired end timeof recording by the user because the user never specified the end timeof multimedia data transfer to an external device, then the set-top box(501) can encode and transmit streams of multimedia data at ahighest-possible-quality sampling rate (e.g. an SP-mode) until athreshold value for low available storage space is reached from theexternal device. Once the threshold value for low storage space isreached, the set-top box (501) can encode a subsequent stream of themultimedia data at a lower-quality sampling rate (e.g. an LP-mode or anEP-mode) to “cram-in” as many subsequent streams of multimedia data aspossible until the low available storage space for the external deviceis completely consumed or until the user commands the apparatus to stoptransmission of the multimedia data.

FIG. 6 shows a flowchart showing how an incoming multimedia signal isreceived, encoded, routed, and/or stored to a device operativelyconnected to a set-top box, in accordance with an embodiment of theinvention. In STEP 601, a set-top box exhibiting an embodiment of thepresent invention is configured to receive a multimedia signal from amultimedia signal source, which may be related to cable, satellite, ATSCairwave, or any other broadcasting and/or communication signal sources.

If the set-top box is set to auto-route to a web/cloud computing storageor service, as shown in STEP 602, then the set-top box selects and/ordetermines a compatible encoding method for the web/cloud computingstorage, and encodes the multimedia signal as a stream of multimediadata, as shown in STEP 603. Then, the set-top box automatically routesthe encoded stream of multimedia data to the web/cloud computing storageand stores the encoded stream, wherein the multimedia data stored in theweb/cloud computing storage may be categorized, searchable, andidentifiable by a user ID associated with the set-top box, as shown inSTEP 604.

On the other hand, if the set-top box is not configured to auto-route tothe web/cloud computing storage, then the set-top box determines how toroute and encode the incoming multimedia signal to a destination devicesuch as a memory card (e.g. SD card), a portable device, and/or adisplay device operatively connected to the set-top box, as shown inSTEP 605. Typically, the operative connection of the memory card, theportable device, and/or the display device is achieved through apoint-to-point connection (PTP) or a local area network. Once theset-top box determines how to route and encode the incoming multimediasignal to the destination device, then based on an existing data storingcommand or a data recording event trigger (e.g. pushing the “record”button on the set-top box), record the routed and compatibly-encodedmultimedia signal to a storage-capable device (SD card, Flash memory,and etc.) from the set-top box if requested or necessary, as shown inSTEP 606.

FIG. 7 shows a flowchart showing how multimedia data initiallyauto-routed and stored in the web and/or cloud computing storage via theset-top box can be accessed by a user, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. In STEP 701, a user can log-in using a user ID and anauthenticating password to a web/cloud computing service, whichpreviously stored an encoded stream of multimedia data from the set-topbox as a multimedia file. Once logged in, the user can select aparticular multimedia file for viewing or downloading, as shown in STEP702. Then, if the user wants to download the particular multimedia fileto a destination device operatively connected to the set-top box, asshown in STEP 703, the particular multimedia file can be transmitted tothe set-top box, as shown in STEP 704. Then, the set-top box can routethe particular multimedia file to the destination device operativelyconnected to the set-top box, as shown in STEP 705. Furthermore, basedon the set-top box and the device configurations, the particularmultimedia file routed to the destination device may be displayed and/orstored by the destination device, as shown in STEP 706. Examples of thedestination device include a cellular phone, a media recorder and/orplayer, a USB Flash memory card, and a video game player. Theinteraction among the web/cloud computing service, the set-top box, andthe destination device is largely if not entirely automated, therebyrequiring little to no manual human intervention.

If the user did not want to download the particular multimedia file to adestination device operatively connected to the set-top box in STEP 703,then the user, at his/her discretion, may view the particular multimediafile via a user interface of the web/cloud computing service without aphysical download of the particular multimedia file, as shown in STEP707.

FIG. 8 shows a flowchart showing how a user can control the set-top boxvia a web and/or cloud computing service which enables initiating,modifying, or cancel encoding, routing, and/or storing of incomingmultimedia signals to the set-top box, in accordance with an embodimentof the invention. In STEP 801, a user can log-in using a user ID and anauthenticating password to a web user interface operatively andtypically remotely connected to a set-top box. In one embodiment of theinvention, the web user interface is capable of controlling multimediadata encoding, routing, or recording settings in the set-top box. Theweb user interface is also typically capable of changing TV channels andscheduled time recordings if an encoded stream of multimedia data isconfigured to be stored on a device, platform, or service operativelyconnected to the set-top box. Then, in STEP 802, the user can utilizethe web user interface to initiate, modify, or cancel encoding, routing,or recording settings of the set-top box or incoming multimedia signalsreceived by the set-top box. Furthermore, as shown in STEP 803, anychanged settings can be re-adjusted at any time by re-logging into theweb user interface.

While the invention has been described with respect to a limited numberof embodiments, those skilled in the art, having benefit of thisdisclosure, will appreciate that other embodiments can be devised whichdo not depart from the scope of the invention as disclosed herein.Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be limited only by theattached claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A set-top box serving as a synchronizing bridgefor multimedia data processing, routing, storage, and access, theset-top box comprising: a signal processor and/or a converter whichgenerate a pre-encoded stream of digitized data after receiving a rawincoming multimedia signal or after receiving a pre-processed, decoded,decompressed, and/or decrypted incoming multimedia signal from a serviceprovider-specific signal receiver; a multi-standard codec whichgenerates one or more streams of encoded multimedia data from thepre-encoded stream of digitized data, wherein a continuous stream of oneparticular encoded multimedia data is chopped up intoindividually-viewable segments of variable lengths by the set-top boxprior to data transmission to another device, and wherein each length ofeach individually-viewable segment is shorter when the set-top box'scurrent workload is heavy or when the set-top box's bandwidthavailability is low, and wherein each length of eachindividually-viewable segment is longer when the set-top box's currentworkload is light or when the set-top box's bandwidth availability ishigh; one or more I/O ports which receive and/or transmit data to acloud-computing storage and service operatively connected to the set-topbox, wherein the data is the individually-viewable segments of variablelengths that are automatically-routed to and stored in thecloud-computing storage and service for a quick user viewing of eachindividually-viewable segments even before all of theindividually-viewable segments comprising the continuous stream of oneparticular encoded multimedia data are received by the cloud-computingstorage and service, and wherein the individually-viewable segments ofvariable lengths from the set-top box are categorized to be searchableand identifiable by a user ID associated with the set-top box; and A CPUoperatively connected to a memory unit, the signal processor and/or theconverter, and the multi-standard codec, wherein the CPU commands andcontrols an overall behavior of the set-top box and authorizes a useroperatively connected to the set-top box via the web or cloud-computingservice to adjust a setting in the set-top box.
 2. The set-top box ofclaim 1, wherein at least some of the individually-viewable segments ofvariable lengths are automatically stitched together as a singleviewable multimedia data file, once all of the individually-viewablesegments representing the continuous stream of one particular encodedmultimedia are fully transmitted to the cloud-computing storage andservice.
 3. The set-top box of claim 1, further comprising a buffermemory unit which stores the one or more streams of encoded multimediadata.
 4. The set-top box of claim 1, further comprising a physical userinterface such as a display screen and/or a button operatively connectedto the CPU, wherein the physical user interface enables recording,routing, re-routing, displaying, and/or cancellation of the one or morestreams of encoded multimedia data.
 5. The set-top box of claim 1,wherein the pre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decryptedincoming multimedia signal from the service provider specific signalreceiver involves one or more processes involving an analog-to-digitalconversion of the raw incoming multimedia signal, decompressing and/ordecoding a data packet, removing security features and decryptingencrypted contents of the data packet, and/or modifying the data packet.6. The set-top box of claim 1, wherein the cloud-computing storage is anetwork-attached storage (NAS).
 7. The set-top box of claim 1, whereinthe set-top box is integrated into a display panel such as a television,a computer monitor, or a portable electronic device.
 8. A method toutilize a set-top box as a synchronizing bridge between a multimediasignal source and cloud-computing storage and service, the methodcomprising: receiving a multimedia signal from the multimedia signalsource, wherein the multimedia signal is a raw incoming signal or apre-processed, decoded, decompressed, and/or decrypted signal from aservice provider specific signal receiver unit; and when the set-top boxis set to auto-route to the cloud-computing storage and service:selecting and/or determining a compatible encoding method for thecloud-computing storage and service; encoding the multimedia signal as acontinuous stream of one particular encoded of multimedia data that ischopped up into individually-viewable segments of variable lengths bythe set-top box prior to data transmission to another device, andwherein each length of each individually-viewable segment is shorterwhen the set-top box's current workload is heavy or when the set-topbox's bandwidth availability is low, and wherein each length of eachindividually-viewable segment is longer when the set-top box's currentworkload is light or when the set-top box's bandwidth availability ishigh; and automatically routing each of the individually-viewablesegments of variable lengths from the set-top box to the cloud-computingstorage and service, wherein each of the individually-viewable segmentsof variable lengths gets stored in the cloud-computing storage andservice for a quick user viewing of each individually-viewable segmentseven before all of the individually-viewable segments comprising thecontinuous stream of one particular encoded multimedia data are receivedby the cloud-computing storage and service, and wherein theindividually-viewable segments of variable lengths from the set-top boxare categorized to be searchable and identifiable by a user IDassociated with the set-top box.
 9. The method of claim 8, furthercomprising a step of stitching the individually-viewable segments ofvariable lengths as a single viewable multimedia data file, once all ofthe individually-viewable segments representing the continuous stream ofone particular encoded multimedia are fully transmitted to thecloud-computing storage and service.
 10. The method of claim 8, whereinthe automatically routing each of the individually-viewable segments ofvariable lengths from the set-top box to the cloud-computing storage andservice involves a WAN and/or a LAN connection between the set-top boxand the cloud-computing storage and service.
 11. The method of claim 8,further comprising a step of using a web user interface to access theset-top box and adjust a setting in the set-top box as desired by auser, wherein the setting is a current TV channel, a recording schedule,an encoding type, or a specific data rate.
 12. The method of claim 8,wherein the set-top box is integrated into a display panel such as atelevision, a computer monitor, or a portable electronic device.